Blessings and housekeeping!

I really shouldn't be on the computer right now. I dropped Christopher off at work and immediately went over to Goodwill to see if the quilt I needed was still there (and it was!). Since my husband is over fifty five (okay, he's almost sixty one... I tell him I married an old man, hehehe) we get the senior discount on Wednesdays.

That brought the quilt into my price range. It's just an inexpensive mass produced quilt but it is still soft and pretty... and it is perfect for my living room sofa bed.

When I showed it to my husband, he called it a "Brenda" quilt. I'll take that as a compliment as it is in soft shades of blue, green, and yellow and some of the patchwork is in an English Rose type of pattern. I don't think he meant it as a compliment, though. :)

As long as the weather holds out, my daughter and her family will arrive tomorrow evening. I'm going to put away most of the Christmas decorations but I'll leave up the tree until they open their gifts. I also have to toddler proof the house, do laundry, and finish sorting through books. I shouldn't be on the computer. I really shouldn't.

However, I wanted to say hello to "you all" (my southern family roots) and "you guys" (my Midwestern upbringing) and tell you what a blessing you all have been. When my daughter kept encouraging me to start a blog, I never expected the benefits of meeting so many wonderful people. I love how we are all so different... yet, the same.

Some of you are obviously much like me, others completely different. One of my favorite people is Freddie, whose blog is A friar style? in my sidebar (sorry, I don't have the mouse available to put a link in from here). In my everyday real-in-person life, we would have never met. Yet, I enjoy so much when Bloglines shows he has posted recently. If you haven't visited Freddie's site, do so now. Okay... when you finish reading this!

I receive comments and e-mails from people in all situations, all ages, most are dedicated Christians and others (including one of my other favorite people) are not. Yet... I'm still praying. :) I love getting to know people from all parts of the world.

What a blessing it is to know we are not alone... to know there are people "out there" that we would love to sit down and have tea with in real life... or coffee at Starbucks (thank you again to my dear blog friend who sent me the Starbucks gift card!). Over the past year (almost one and a half years), you have amazed me with your gifts of books, the digital camera, the perfume, and my recent visits to Starbucks. Not to mention your prayers when I really needed them. I don't think I could have gotten through the very long work hours without them recently.

I know those of you who have gone through severe trials know what I mean when I say... when I can encourage you in your trials then I feel mine were not in vain. To share in this tiny space in the world wide web that it is truly possible to have come through suffering even stronger in my faith, that beauty is very important, that we can make our dwelling places a bit of Heaven on Earth (not perfect mind you because we are all still human... but as comfy and cozy as possible)... then my days have meaning.

Now, I must load the washing machine and start the process of putting away most of Christmas 2007. I know the more attention to detail I put into packing my Christmas "stuff", the easier the unpacking will be come next Christmas.

May you all be blessed as much as you have blessed me. :)